Long Grove Plan Commission

Meeting Minutes

November 6, 2001

 

Present:  Commissioners Borawski, Coffin, DiIorio, Jenkins, F. Phillips, L. Phillips, and Walter, Chairman Young, Village Manager Doughty and Planner Kendig.

 

Commissioner Gould arrived at 8:32 pm.

 

Note:   Commissioner L. Phillips volunteered to record minutes in light of the recent resignation of Secretary Bendoff.

 

I.                   PUBLIC HEARINGS

A.     Park District Buffalo Creek Park Special Use Amendment

 

Public Hearing was called to order at 8:03 by Chairman Young.  Village Manager Doughty read public notice and swore in those wishing to testify.

 

¨       Park Board Chairman Lee Bassett noted three items to be amended and justification for each:

1.                   Delete number 3 of Ordinance 93-O-16 prohibiting use of a public address system.  Mr. Bassett indicated that most events are weddings and require same;

2.                   Strike the requirement that a Park District representative be present for all events based prior history of peaceable events and contractual agreements with customers outlining appropriate use of the park;

3.                   Delete the season indicating Spring to Fall use of the Park, as outlined in Ordinance 93-O-16, number 6, thereby allowing year round use of Buffalo Creek Park by permit.

 

With no further witnesses, Chairman Young closed the public hearing on this matter at 8:11 pm

 

B.     Monotony and Housing Design Standards

 

Public Hearing was called to order at 8:12 by Chairman Young.  Village Manager Doughty read public notice and swore in those wishing to testify.

 

¨       Norma Sayles, Proprietor, Village Tavern, stated that parking and bathroom facilities at the Tavern are used by guests attending events in Buffalo Creek Park and requested information regarding the intent of the Village with regard to the 3.6 acre parcel immediately adjacent to Buffalo Creek Park to the North.  Mrs. Sayles suggested that purchase of that property might allow more parking for the Park.

 

Dr. Young asked that Mrs. Sayles reiterate these comments during the general meeting, as the public hearing regarding the Park had been closed.

 

¨       Architectural Board Chairman John Staub referred to his comments as outlined in his memo to the Plan Commission dated 10/25/01.  Mr. Staub’s memo indicated his review of the monotony code commented that he would add the following (paraphrased): 

1.                   Consistency of roof pitches within a single unit;

2.                   Require applicant to provide elevations including homes on either side;

3.                   Add varied setbacks;

4.                   Side load garages preferable to front load.          

       

His memo also indicated altering topography, particularly on “flat farm lands” to break up monotony and definition of “production builder” as a builder of ten or more homes within 2000 feet.

 

Manager Doughty read Planner Kendig’s draft of the Monotony and Housing Design Standards dated 11/06/01.  Discussion ensued. Comments, recommendations follow.

 

p. 1:  Control Options:                       Commissioner Coffin noted the term “pallet” may need definition. Manager Doughty suggested the verbiage “preapproved elevations” replace “housing pallet approval”.

 

Commissioner Gould arrived at 8:32 pm.

 

p. 1:  Mandatory Quality Design Criteria

 

A.  Window and Door Trim:    Discussion included questions by Commissioners Coffin and L. Phillips as to whether the language might be too vague for enforcement.  Commissioner F. Phillips requested clarification regarding similar treatments on all sides, using shutters as an example.  Planner Kendig responded indicating shutters on the front of a home would require shutters on all other windows, except in the case of a window “traditionally” left without such treatment.  Commissioner DiIorio recommended changing the terms window and door to the plural to clarify that windows, doors and trim are included.

 

B.   Building Materials:          Manager Doughty suggested the Commission might want to incorporate the term percentage into this paragraph to insure the appropriate amount of stone, brick, etc. is carried throughout the structure.  The terms “quality and style” were also suggested for use in clarifying this paragraph.  It was also recommended that this paragraph include “architectural enhancements or projections”.  Commissioners felt the term “avoided” should be replaced with more committed language using wording which indicates what is “required”.

 

C.  Roof Overhangs:  An average of 18 inches was felt to be too large by several Commissioners.  Commissioner DiIorio suggested replacing “average of 18 inches” with “minimum of 12 inch overhang”.   Manager Doughty asked that “Review” be stricken from what should read “Architectural Board”.

 

p. 2:     Design Criteria

 

A.        Roof Heights: Architectural Board President John Staub indicated his comment regarding consistency of roof pitches refers to variation from house to house, not within a particular model.

 

B.        Floor Plans and Elevations:   Many Commissioners agreed the term avoided was not strong enough and should be replaced with language that “requires” compliance.

 

p. 3      Design Criteria, continued

 

F.                  Lot Frontage and Size:  Commissioner Walter suggested rewording of the second sentence in this paragraph for clarification.

 

p. 3      Overall Design

 

Commissioner Walter noted that “B” should be changed to “A”, and  “C” should be changed to “B”.

 

Manager Doughty suggested that criteria for a “production builder” established and that the term be replaced with something more appropriate.

 

Commissioner Coffin asked if the Village would hire a “Plan Reviewer” to relieve staff.  It was generally believed that the added load on the Architectural Board would be reasonable.

 

With no further comment, Chairman Young closed the Public Hearing at 9:34 pm.

 

II.                MEETING GAVELED TO ORDER

 

Meeting was called to order by Chairman Young at 9:35 pm.

 

An unidentified resident asked for clarification on “minimum home size”.  Manager Doughty stated that case law prevents dictating home size.  The resident indicated her concern that a neighboring property owner intended to build a home which would appear to be a “shed” in her neighborhood.  She did not indicate the property location. 

 

III.             MINUTES OF OCTOBER  2, 2001

 

Corrections:

 

Commissioner Jenkins noted the following: 

Page 2, Paragraphs 6 and 10:  Change the dates for Public Hearing from November 2 to November 6, 2001. 

Page 2, Paragraph 8:  “Village Planner Doughty” should read “Village Manager Doughty”.

 

No other corrections were noted.  Commissioner Walter moved to accept the minutes as amended.  Commissioner Borawski seconded the motion. Ayes all.  Motion carried. 

 

IV.              OLD BUSINESS

 

A.     Park District Buffalo Creek Park Special Use Amendment

 

Resident and business owner Norma Sayles reiterated her question regarding the intent of the Village regarding the 3.6 acre parcel North of Buffalo Creek Park.  Chairman Young referred Mrs. Sayles to the Village Board.

 

Motion to recommend an amendment to the Village Code relative to the special use granted regarding activities in Buffalo Creek Park allowing events using a public address system,  year round use, and activities unsupervised by a Park District representative of made by Commissioner Borawski.  Seconded by Commissioner Walter.  Ayes all. Motion carried.

 

B.  Housing Design Standards

 

Planner Kendig has submitted a Draft Monotony Code dated November 6, 2001.  He will rework the draft based on suggestions of the Commission and John Staub, Architectural Board Chair, as noted in the minutes of the public hearing and including the following comments made by Commissioners.

 

Commissioner Gould expressed her support for John Staub’s suggestion that applicants provide elevations of homes (existing or proposed) on either side of an applicant’s parcel.  The Commission was largely in favor of the inclusion.

 

Much discussion occurred regarding whether the Standards were to be guidelines or ordinance.  Commissioner Phillips suggested  the mandatory section be recommended to the Board as ordinance, but the remainder is preserved in some form for distribution to applicants and the Commission.  Commissioner Gould recommended just changing the order of presentation such that  design approval and mandatory criteria are placed first, followed by recommended design criteria.

 

Commissioner Coffin asked if these standards may conflict with any current part of Village Code or the Comprehensive Plan.  Manager Doughty noted that code will be revised and the new standards will replace any prior language in the Plan or Code.

 

Commissioner DiIorio noted that 20 units or 30 percent of a development (page 4, paragraph 1) is possibly too high and recommended 10 units or 20% as more appropriate.  He also added that no more than 3 lots in a row should be sold to one builder.  On page 3, Commissioner DiIorio suggested that the section on “Garage Placement and Orientation” include a restriction allowing only 2 bays of a garage to project beyond the main structure.  Also her recommends removing lot lines from the center of a road and making roads common property, while maintaining setbacks from the lot lines.

 

Commissioner Walter noted that similar units along a street face should be place further apart than 6 units, as stated in paragraph A, p. 4.  After some discussion,  the Commission agreed that  blocks of 10 homes without repetition and the addition of a sentence indicating that “no house in a development can be of the same shape, style or color”.  

 

Commissioner Borawski recommended the word “This” in paragraph C, p. 4 be changed to “Review” for clarity. 

 

C.  Bulk Housing Regulations

 

Manager Doughty revisited last month’s discussion of cubic versus square footage in setting bulk standards.  Staff was unable to provide further information on this topic, but will try to do so for the December meeting.

 

Commissioner L. Phillips reminded the Commission that we also needed further information about landscape volume. She further expressed concern that the Commission is sure to incorporate that factor so as not to punish “old growth” areas from improving property values when the real goal was to prevent huge structures from rising out of corn fields.  Commissioner Gould expressed her concern that the landscape factor may not work as she felt individuals may cut down trees planted by prior owners.

 

D.  Long Grove Sub-Area Plan

 

Motion to table the LG Station Sub-Area Plan review until the February 2002 meeting was made by Commissioner Walter and seconded by Commissioner Borawski.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

E.  Lake Cook Road and Route 53 Sub-Area Plan

 

Village Manager Doughty noted that there was a possibility of a high-end tennis and bath type club for the Iverson property and asked for comments.  Many Commissioners were in favor of such a possibility.  Commissioner Gould suggested she favors “something for the residents” such as a Sunset Foods, dry cleaner, movie rental store, etc.  Commissioner L. Phillips questioned whether a club such as that mentioned by Manager Doughty could be sustained with Forest Grove less than a mile away.  Further discussion required at December meeting.

 

F.  Development Evaluation

 

Commissioner Gould questioned whether the form allows for Long Grove to “learn from our mistakes”.  No conclusion reached.

 

            G.  Review of Comprehensive Plan:  Septic vs. Sanitary Sewer Systems

 

Chairman Young complimented Commissioner Gould on the work she has done to answer many of the questions regarding this issue.  A report by Commissioner Gould  based on her discussions with several experts in the field, including Jim Frayn, V.P., Manhard Consulting and Ed Hoak, Long Grove Trustee was distributed to the Commission.

 

Manager Doughty suggested that still more questions should be answered and offered to distribute to the commission a numbered list of Commissioner Gould’s questions and to revisit the subject with the Village Board to determine how to proceed.

 

V.                 NEW BUSINESS – none

VI.              COMMITTEE REPORTS – none

VII.           PLANNER’S REPORT –none

VIII.        ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT –none

IX.              ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

 

Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner F. Phillips, seconded by Commissioner Walter.  Ayes All.  Meeting adjourned at 11:27 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lisa Schultz Phillips